Electrical-fixture connection



Sept. 30 1924.

P. R. KUHN ELECTRICAL FIXTURE CONNECTION ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES p PETER n. KUHN, or NEW YORK, N QY.

ELECTRICAL-FIXTURE CONNECTION.

.Application filedll'uly 19, 1920. Serial, No. 397,263.

T o all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, PETER R. KUHN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements .in Electrical-Fixture Connections, of which the following is a specification. i

My present invention comprises improved means for supporting, and providing electrical connections to electroliers or other v iixtures.

tion is to provide means for the purpose specified comprising cooperating parts adapted to beattached one to the electrolier or other fixture andJthe other to the ceiling of a building or other support which are of such character that the one part may be v readily secured to any one of a variety of standard outlet boxes, Such as are commonly employed in electrical construction work, while the other parts may be readily secured to the end of anelectrolier of various standard constructions, and the two parts may be readily coupled together, and when coupled together provide a mechanical support for 'the elect-rolier or like structure which is rigid and possesses the necessary mechanical strength, and which at the same time provides simple and effective electrical connections between the conductors of the electrolier or like structure and the supply conductors extending into the metallic outlet box through the wall of the latter. i5 The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention however, the advantages possessed by it, and specific objects attained with its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings," and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation with parts broken away of a portion of a ceiling and electrolier connected thereto.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. F F'ig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of ig. 4 is a section taken similarly to Fig.

The primary object of the inven-A l, but showing a portion only of the apparatus Shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, with the parts in an initial'stage of the coupling operation, and I Fig. 6 is a section taken with the parts in the same relative position shown in Fig. 5, and the other member of the connector in section on the line 6 6 of Fig. l, and with the inner member in section on the line 6A of Fig. 1.

In the drawings A represents a metallic ceiling junctionbox in one of the standard forms in common use with which my present invention is especially adapted for use. As

` shown the junction box A is in the form of a shallow inverted cup imbedded in a ceiling, and with its lower edge or rim flush with the ceiling surface B. 'Centrally secured in the junction box A is the corresponding member C of my improved connector. As shown, the member C which is preferably formed of some mechanically strong insulating vmateria-l, as vulcanized fibre, bakelite or the like, comprises a flanged base through which pass screws D by which the part C is secured to the junction box. The holes through the members C for the screws D are so arranged'that these screws may be threaded into the tapped apertures commonly provided for fixture attachment in a junction box of the type shown. As shown also, the part C is preferably made with an axial passage C10 threaded at its upper end to permit the part C to be screwed on to the pipe support or hanger which projects centrally through` the top wall of one standard form of junctionk box.

The part C comprises a cylindrical bodyportion C2 having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal ribs C3 extending from top to bottom of the body-portion and also having aipair of ribs or lugs C6 projectirg from the lower end of the body-portion 2 between the ribs C3. The ribs C3 are cutaway in their upper portions to provide recessed seats C, and shoulders C, one at one side of each seat C4. Metallic contact pieces E are secured to the part C. As shown the body-portions of the contact members E are received in corresponding shallow grooves C7 formed at the opposite sides of shaped member part C when the the body C2 and the outwardly bent upper end of each member E is received in a rev cess .C1 formed in the flanged' portion of the member C. The contacts E are secured inV place by screws E and the latter also serve to connect vto the contacts E the corresponding conductors K which enter the junction box A'through a conduit J secured to the latter in -the usual manner. Each contact member E is provided at its lower end with a resilient' back turned or hook port-ion E10.

Cooperating with the connector part C is a connector part F secured to the stem H oit the chandelier or liketixture. The part F is shown as in the form of a cuptorming a cylindrical socket receiving the body-portion C2 ot the parts are coupled together.- As shown the stem H of the chandelier is vscrewed into a threaded aperture provided for the purpose in the bottomfot the member F which may advantageously be made of the same material as the member-C. At its upper end the member F is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed internal ribs F', and with a second pair of diametrieally opposed internal ribs F2. The parts are so proportioned that the inner surfaces of the ribs F1 and F2 t snugly about the cylindrical body-portion C2 of the coupling part C, while the outer surfaces of the ribs C3 and C0 tit snugly against the inner wall of the cavity in the member F below the projections F and F2. Mounted in the member F are a couple of metallic contact members G shown -as secured in place by screws G, the heads of which bear against metallic contact members G2 received in recesses F5 formed in the outer surface otthe member F. Screws G3 serve to connect the ends of the electrolier conductors I against the plates G2 and thus connect the conductors I to the contacts G. As shown each conductor I extends from the cavity of the member F to the recess F3 through a corresponding aperture F formed in the member F. The contacts G are formed at their upper ends with resilient down-turned or hook portions G10 which take over the ortions F10 of the contacts F as shown in ig. 1 when the connecting parts are coupled together.

In assembling the apparatus, the member F is moved axially on to the body C2 ot the member C to enter the shoulders F ot the member F between the ribs C3 and the lugs C0 of the member C until the lower.

edge of each rib F1 is above the upper edge of the corresponding shoulder C5, after which the member F is rotated in a cloekwise direction about the member C to bring the lower ends of the ribs F1 into engagement with the seat C4. In the initial upward movement of the member F relative to the member C the contacts E and G move alongside ot one another, but the rotation of the member F relative to the member C to bring the lugs F1 above the seats C1 brings the contacts into the position shown in Fig. l and Fig. 2 wherein each hook G1" is between the body of the corresponding contact E and its hook E10, and each hook E10 is between the body of the corresponding contact G and its hook G10. Advantageously the hooks G10 and E10 in their unleXed condition are not parallel to the bodies ot the contacts, but are inclined as shown in Fig. 5, so that when the, contacts engage as shown in Figs. l and 3, the re siliency of the metal of the contacts insures a springpressure engagement.` lVith the ribs C3 cut away as shown to provide the seats C4 and shoulders C5, the member F must be rotated in a clockwise direction to couple the parts together and in the reverse direction to uncouple them.' To insure the easy assembling of the apparatus with each lug F at the proper side ot a rib C2, the ribs C2 and C0 are unevenly spaced apart as shown in Fig. 6 so that a lug F2 can enterthe groove at the left hand side, but cannot enter the groove at the right hand side of either lug C3. To prevent accidental displacement of the parts when coupled together and to add rigidity to the coupledv connection, I preferably provide means for detachably clamping the parts together. As shown the means provided for this purpose comprises a screw L threaded through an opening in the bottom wall of the member F and bearing against the end ot the member C2. M represents a canopy of conven tional form secured, as by the screw M1, on the electrolier stem H vand serving to provide an ornamental cover for the outlet box and coupling.

Among the special advantages of the con-- 'struction disclosed are the tollowing:

The connectors. made in the single size and style can be used to connect an elec trolier or like fixture of any one of numerous standard types into an outlet box which may be of any one of a number ot standard constructions. Owing' to the longitudinal displacement ot the lugs F2 and C0 in the assembled structure, the lengths of the rib C3 and the location and relative arrangement of the metallic Contact parts, the parts C and F telescope so as to provide the equivalent ot an elongated cylindrical bearing or contact surface. This prevents an) injurious'relative movement ot' the contacts resulting from swaying motion of the electrolier and tending' to dislocate or weaken the structure. The rigidity of the parts is enhanced ofcourse by the use of a clamping device such as is formed by the screw L.

The coupling parts can be readily attached fixture can be quickly and easily attached to its ceiling support and when so attached may -be readily detached if occasion requrres, provided the clamping screw L is loosened but with the latter screwed home,

the apparatus cannot be accidentally displaced and det-ached. The connection has excellent electrical and insulating characteristics and it'. the connector parts are made of non-inflammable material as they should be, the construction is practically lire-proof.

While in accordance `,with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best form of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set Jforth in the appended claims and that in some cases certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features. g

Having now described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is v 1. A connector for suspending an electric fixture comprising a part formed of insulating material and adapted to be secured in a standard ceiling outlet box and a c0- operating part of insulating material adapted to be secured to the fixture, one of said parts being tubular and telescopically receiving the other, said tubular part having its inner wall shaped to provide an axially elongated cylindrical bearing surface, and the other part being shaped to provide an external axially elongated cylindrical bearing surface adapted to fit snugly in the First mentioned bearing surface, one of said parts being formed with a lug projecting from the bearingsurface of the part and the other. part being cut away to form a bayonet joint-like groove in its bearing surface, whereby the parts may be axially moved together, with said lug received in said groove, and may then be rotated relative to one another to bring the parts into position 1n which the end edge of said lug and the transverse edge wall of said slot form shoulders co-operating to prevent axial displacement of the parts, electrical contact members carried by and located within said tubular part and cooperating electrical contact, members carried by the other part and brought into vengagement with the v firstmentioned contact member by the movement of said parts into the relative position i which said shoulders prevent axial displacement of said parts.

2. An electrical connector of the character specified comprising a tubular body of insulating material and a second body of insulating material extending into the tubular part and having a diameter less than the internal diameter of said tubular body, and means comprising integral internal projections from the tubular body and integral external projections on said second body, providing axially elongated and circumferentially extending bearing surfaces between said bodies and a bayonet joint connection for locking said bodies against axial displacement in one direction in one angular adjustment of the parts, and cooperating metallic electrical contact members secured to said parts so as to lie between said projections and engage with one another when -said parts are in the position in which they are locked against axial displacement.

3. An electrical connector comprising a tubular body of insulating material and a second body of insulating material adapted to extend into said tubular body and of a diameter less than the internal diameter of the tubular body, and means comprising internal projections on the tubular body and external projections' on second body for providing axially elongated and circumferentially extending contact surfaces between said bodies and a bayonet joint connection for locking said bodies against axial displacement in one direction i one angular adjustment of the bodies, metallic electrical contact members carried by said bodies' and located between said projections and brought into engagement with one another by the movement of said bodies into the position in which they are locked against axial displacement in the one direction, and means for releasably holding said bodies' against axial displacement in a direction opposite to the first-mentioned direction.

4. An electrical connector comprising a tubular body of insulatingmaterial formed with angularly spaced apart internal projections at one end ,and a second body ot insulating material of a diameter permitting its insertion in said tubular body between said projections and provided withl external longitudinally-extending ribs passing between said spaced apart projections and each cut-away at one side to provide a recessed seat for a corresponding one of said projections when axially inserted in said tubular body and rotated to couple said bodies together, said second body being pro- Vvided at its end entering said tubular body with projections located between and spaced apart from said ribs, whereby circumferentially extending bearing surfaces between the two bodies are provided at eachend of the portion of the second body received in said tubular. body, and electrical contact members secured-to the two members and engaging one another between said bearing surfaces when said bodies are coupled together to prevent the axial movement of the parts together except when the cutaway side of each rib is alongside the co'- operating projection of the tubular part.

5. An electrical connector comprising a tubular'body of insulatingfmaterial formed with angularly spaced internal projections at one end and a second body of insulating material of a diameter permitting its insertion in said tubular part between said projections and provided with external longitudinally-extending ribs passing between said spaced apart projections and each cut-away at one side to provide a recessed seat for a corresponding one oi said projections when axially inserted in said tubular part and rotated to couple the parts together, said second body being provided at its entering end with projections located between, and spaced apart from said ribs whereby circumferentially extending bearing surfaces between the two bodies are provided at each end of the portion of the second body received in said tubular part, and electrical contact members secured to the two members and enga ing one another between said bearing surxces when said bodies' are .coupled together7 said projections and ribs being so angularly proportioned and disposed as to prevent the axial move* ment together of the bodies except when the cut-away side of each rib is alongside a Vprojection of said tubular body adapted to en age said recessed seat.

igned at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 17th day of July, A. D. 1920.

PETER R. KU HN. 

